A day ahead of the second merit list, principals anticipated that cut-offs would fall by up to 2% for the self-financing courses, but higher for the regular streams when the lists are declared on Thursday.
The first day of fee payment saw about 60% turnout of students who secured their
seats after they made it in the first list. Students have until 1.30pm on Thursday to pay their fees and secure their seat.

Cut-offs had risen by up to 5% on Tuesday, when the first merit list was declared, over last year. “I don’t think it will fall by much, maybe 1% point or 2% points,” said Rekha Bahadur, vice-principal of HR College, Churchgate.

For popular courses such as management studies, accounting and finance, and mass media, the cut-offs aren’t likely to dip by too much in popular colleges.

Vijay Joshi, principal, KJ Somaiya College, Vidyavihar, said it could dip by 2% to 3% points for the second merit list. “With in-house students cancelling admissions on getting into other desired colleges, seats will remain vacant by the time second and third list will be out,” he said.

Wednesday was the first day for students to pay fees and secure a seat after making it in the first merit list. At HR, 65% of students had done so overall, at KJ Somaiya College around 60% students had done so for Bachelor of Accounting and Finance and Bachelor of Management Studies.

Jai Hind saw fewer students confirming their admission on the first day after the merit list was announced, with about 50% students doing so in different streams.